Local Blogger Says Goodbye

When I was in high school, I was a really good math student. Even though I lost the enthusiasm for the routine of school, shall we say, a few years later, I legit enjoyed doing my Calculus homework. For me, the time I spent doing that work will be forever linked to the CDs I listened to; my parents would buy them for me because hey, there are worse habits to encourage, so thusly I knocked out stuff like OK Computer, Bitches Brew, basically anything AllMusicGuide gave five stars to (this included some Grateful Dead CDs. I eventually bought one of the signature bear patches. I never ended up sewing it on to anything). So, when I think of music, I like to think of math because ….

Nah, just playing. Today is my last day at Stereogum and I’d really like to thank Scott and Amrit for hiring me, taking a risk because manually entering music listings for Time Out New York didn’t necessarily translate into what they were doing and wanted to do (Hold up: maybe it did?) but they were patient and appreciative of my ideas from early on, even if I was the low man on the proverbial totem. They gave me the freedom to pursue the stuff I wanted to pursue through their platform, which is a really strong one. You’re always in the conversation at Stereogum. Thanks for putting a megaphone up to my voice, dudes.

(For best reading experience, please press play now)

I’ve been reading Tom’s shit so long that I can’t even really frame when I began, so working with him has been such a pleasure. I hope you all can appreciate what Tom does; he goes in on the subject matter, not ever trying to be too fussy with context or how he might look for having a certain opinion. He writes about music as music; he’s not too tethered to one scene or the other, and I think for all the places he writes for, that sensibility (music or no) shows up and it makes him one of the most consistently readable and thought-provoking guys writing and has been for some time. It also helps that’s he’s basically written half of the Internet at this point. I wonder if there’s some way to responsibly play some “how many random clicks in a browser does it take to land on a Tom Breihan article” game. Less than 10 probably? Tom’s kids are going to be tall, so I hope that he’s cool that I give their information to Bill Self.

I didn’t get to work with Michael long, but Michael is a great guy and a great person to work with. His enthusiasm pulls everyone up, and a lot of the things that have really connected on the site wouldn’t have happened without him (also he’s a huge X-factor; he’s the blog game Scott Brosious). I know the site’s going to be successful going forward and he’s a big part of that, no doubt. I love when he just goes off on something, and I think you can expect a lot more of that in the future.

Most of all I wanna thank the site’s boisterous commentariat, even if they do totally fly of the handle sometimes (not naming names_), because it’s a passionate group that enriches the site. How else would I have known the difference between M83 and Neon Indian?! Holy cow, remember that? I thought I was finished. Turns out I was only getting started. Made it to the top, took a seat, still sittin’! Or something to that effect.

Not getting defensive but to the dude who heckled me mercilessly for my avatar pic, that’s me as a college senior at the Final Four right after Mario Chalmers hit the miracle three and KU won the ‘ship. Sorry (read: not at all sorry, in the least) for being a goddamn champion.

I’ll be around. I appreciate y’all sticking around for the text smattering above, because here’s the real filet mignon: a complete random smattering of videos that I’m going to post because it’s my last day. Happy Birthday, Bo Jackson.

In all sincerity, I will miss your enrichment to the hip-hop and rap-related post contributions to this site. It’s not a genre I am very proficient in, but you have offered up trustworthy content in that regard. I still remember that Drake interview right before Take Care dropped. Best of luck in whatever you do next.

Blogging is hard work, everybody. So many great people doing good things for music (Entire Stereogum cast, the Pelly sisters, Carter at RCRD LBL, Bob at GimmeTinnitus, the guys at Exploding In Sound, Sunny from hate5six who video archives basically every punk and hardcore show live.)

thanks Michael_. i obviously don’t love when you attack others just trying to do their thing and express their feelings about something, but i really appreciate your passion and i like your blog. i think you’re a good writer who really cares about the subject matter and that’s not something everyone can tout, you know? it’s a good thing. Next time you get angry just put on “Headlines” and shit will work out

Spaceships
Don’t come equipped.
With a rear view mirror.
THEY DIP, as quick as they can.
The atmosphere is now ripped.
I’m so like a pip, Gladys Knight
So the light from the sun
Would not burn me on my bum
When I shoot the moon, HYPE
Jump the broom.
Like a preemie out the womb.
My partner yellen, “TOO SOON, DON’T DO IT!
RECONSIDER, READ SOME LITERA-TURE
ON THE SUBJECT.” You sure?
Fuck it.
You know we got your back like Chiro-prac-TIC
If that bitch do you dirty, we wipe her ass out as in detergent.
No hurry, hurry, on to the altar.
I know you ain’t a pimp but pimp remember what I taught you.
Keep yr heart Corban, Keep yr heart.
Damn, these girls is smart Corban, these girls is smart.
Play your part.

and thanks for linking your drake q&a, i distinctly remember bookmarking it the day it was published for later viewing since it was so goddamn long but would obviously be totally worthwhile reading someday. well a year later, i finally found a friday at the office with two hours to kill. thanks.

From what I know, that Q&A is going to be in the new Best Music Writing 2012 book that’s going to be published soon. It’s not part of the Da Capo series anymore, but it’s independently published and guest-edited by ?uestlove! So, look out for that #PLUG

Man I was already emotional and you go and do this to me, It’s okay tho you’ll always be my dude Corban. I enjoyed the run you had here. Your writing was always the most fun – conversational – made the content feel inclusive, like friends hanging out shooting the shit, and to me there was always a sense of personal investment in it, a wonderment, you loved music, in the way that many of us here do, with unhealthy obsession. I look forward to whatever you may do in the future.

I don’t know if any of that is right… lol
Remember, I always have your back.
Here’s a farewell Sloth hug.

It’s been a reeeeeeeeal treat corby. learned a lot from you, and that’s true say. you opened my eyes to enjoying a song/artist for the music and learned me to not get caught up in whether or not the artist is “cool” or “hip” or “boner inducing,” etc. While I ruined new years 2011 for 2 people by ranting about the quality of “whip my hair” FOR 1 HOUR, that speaks more to a drinking problem than anything else. So, thanks.

I can’t touch any of the thoughtful goodbyes above, so all I’ll say is Stereogum has helped me kill a ton of time over the past few years and anyone who has played a part in making it great is way cool with me. Good fuckin luck brotha.

I hope you get some top from a cute intern in the parking lot on your way out. I’m assuming you guys actually work in the same building and it has a parking lot; two things that probably aren’t true.

Best,
Creezy

p.s. I recently learned “top” as a synonym for, ya know- “dome”, “head”, “bologna wash”, “bj”, what have you- in one of those stupid insult tweets from Chris Brown to that comedian lady. It’s a keeper.

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